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A goof is a mistake. The term is also used in a number of specific senses: in cinema, it is an error or oversight during production that is visible in the released version of the film.
Etymology
[edit]Several origins have been proposed for the word. According to Merriam-Webster, "goof" is likely a variation of "goff" in an English dialect, meaning simpleton.[1] Some say the word may come from an identically pronounced Hebrew word meaning "body", some even say it was just a mistake that happened while typing the word "good", hence the word "goof" is also known as another word for mistake.[citation needed]
The Spanish word gofio refers to the balls of toasted flour and salt eaten by the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands. In Latin America (esp. Cuba) the word "comegofio" (lit. "gofio-eater") came to refer to anyone from the Canaries, stereotyped as primitive or stupid.
Cinema
[edit]In filmmaking, a goof is a mistake made during film production that finds its way into the final released picture. Depending upon the film and the actual scene, the goof may have different effects: a loss in realism, an annoyance, or it could just be funny. It is often a type of continuity error. Goofs are also known as "bloopers"[2] or "mistakes".
There are several types of goofs, for example:
- Somebody or something from the film crew is in the picture that wasn't planned (e.g., camera and cameraman is reflected in a mirror, or the microphone is visible, a rope pushing a character over is visible, a hook pulling a character up in the air is visible).
- Chronological or continuity errors (e.g. a cigarette getting longer with the next scene, a cup or glass gaining in volume in the next scene, damage to a building that disappears, or moved props)
- Historical inaccuracies and anachronisms (e.g., an HDTV set in a film set in the 1970s, radio tower in a cowboy movie).
- Geographic: an object or landmark reveals the scene was filmed in a different city than the city it is set. This is very common in Hollywood films that are shot in Canada.
- Problems in audio or soundtrack (e.g. a dog barking before its mouth moves, a person's lips carry on moving after they have finished speaking).
- Intertitles displaying wrong words (e.g. a character called "John" may have his name misspelled Jhon in the subtitles by accident).
- Editing errors, where dialog or events in one scene refer to material that occurred in a prior scene in the screenplay, but which was deleted in the final cut of the film.
Goofs can be found in a large number of films and episodes, even in very expensive productions. The 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, for example, has been counted to have 200 goofs in it, ranging from disappearing props to a storm trooper hitting his head on an opening door.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Definition Merriam-Webster". Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
- ^ Normally used on the IMDb site for bloopers. Archived 2010-04-10 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]
Look up goof in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
from Grokipedia
A goof is a slang term primarily denoting a foolish or stupid person, or a mistake or blunder.[1][2] In some regional slang, particularly Canadian prison jargon, it has a more severe connotation referring to a sex offender.[3] The word can also function as a verb, meaning to make an error, to act foolishly, or to idle away time in a silly manner, often in phrases like "goof off."[1][4]
Originating in American English, the noun form of "goof" first appeared in the early 20th century, with documented use as early as 1915 to describe a simpleton or dupe.[1] Its etymology is uncertain but likely derives from dialectal English "goff," meaning a foolish clown, possibly tracing back to Middle English "goffen," implying frivolous speech.[5] The verb sense emerged in the 1930s, with the earliest recorded use in 1932 in the works of novelist James T. Farrell.[4]
In popular culture, "goof" gained prominence through mid-20th-century media, including comic strips and films, where it often described comedic errors or bungling characters, contributing to its widespread adoption in informal speech.[2] By the late 20th century, the term had evolved to encompass playful or lighthearted foolishness, as seen in expressions like "goof around," while retaining its core connotation of ineptitude or error.[6] Today, it remains a versatile word in everyday American English, frequently used in contexts ranging from casual conversation to entertainment.[1]
Linguistic aspects
Etymology
The word "goof" likely derives from the English dialectal term "goff," denoting a simpleton or fool, which may trace to earlier forms such as "goffe" of uncertain further origin.[1][7] This dialectal usage connects to Middle English "goffen," meaning to speak in a frivolous manner, possibly originating from Old English "gegaf," referring to buffoonery or lewd behavior, and "gaffetung," implying scolding or jesting.[7][8] The noun sense of "goof" first appears in print in 1916, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, while the verb form is earliest attested in 1932 in the writings of novelist James T. Farrell, where it means to dawdle or behave foolishly.[9][4] Speculative and uncited theories propose derivations from Hebrew "guf" (body, potentially implying clumsiness) or a misspelling of "good," but these lack verification in etymological scholarship. The term gained prominence in 20th-century American English slang, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, often describing foolish or inattentive actions in informal contexts such as jazz culture.[7][10] The related adjective "goofy," signifying silly or eccentric behavior, emerged as a direct extension of "goof" in early 20th-century usage.Noun senses
As a noun, "goof" primarily refers to a minor mistake, blunder, or oversight, often resulting from carelessness or inattention, such as forgetting a crucial step in a routine task.[11] This sense emphasizes inadvertent errors that are noticeable but typically not severe, distinguishing it from more formal terms like "error," which carry a neutral or technical connotation, or "gaffe," which specifically denotes a social or verbal indiscretion that embarrasses others.[1][12] A secondary sense of "goof" describes a silly, foolish, or clumsy person, often used affectionately or derogatorily to highlight someone's habitual absentmindedness or lack of seriousness, as in calling a bumbling colleague "a real goof."[1] This usage implies lighthearted folly rather than malice, setting it apart from harsher labels like "idiot."[11] The word's noun senses evolved in American English, with the earliest attestation in 1916 referring to a "stupid person," rooted in dialectal terms for foolishness.[7] By the mid-20th century, around 1954, the meaning shifted to encompass a "blunder," reflecting broader colloquial adoption influenced by verbal forms of the term.[7]Verb senses
As a verb, "goof" primarily denotes making a careless mistake or blunder, often conveying an accidental error rather than intentional wrongdoing. This sense is exemplified in sentences like "I goofed the calculation," where the speaker admits to an inadvertent computational error.[1] The phrasal verb "goof up" intensifies this meaning, signifying to botch or mishandle something thoroughly, as in "He goofed up the entire project by overlooking key details."[13] This usage emerged in American English around the 1940s and carries an informal tone suitable for everyday conversation.[2] A secondary sense of "goof" involves wasting time in an idle or foolish manner, frequently expressed through phrasal verbs like "goof off" or "goof around." For example, "Stop goofing off and focus on your tasks" urges someone to cease unproductive dawdling.[1] This connotation, rooted in 1930s slang for aimless loitering, first appears in print around 1932 and is commonly used in casual reprimands within school or workplace settings to highlight mild negligence without severe criticism.[4] The noun form "goof" may describe the resulting error from such verb actions. Overall, these verbal senses underscore "goof"'s playful yet self-deprecating role in colloquial American English.[14]Specialized applications
In cinema
In cinema, a goof refers to an unintentional error in the filmmaking process that becomes visible in the final cut, momentarily disrupting the viewer's immersion in the story. These mistakes can range from minor oversights to noticeable inconsistencies that eagle-eyed audiences spot upon repeated viewings. For instance, continuity errors occur when elements like a character's clothing or props change inexplicably between shots, such as in The Godfather (1972), where Luca Brasi's watch switches from a square face while practicing his speech to a round face when delivering it to the Don.[15] Common types of goofs include crew visibility, where production equipment or personnel inadvertently appear on screen; for example, in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), studio lights are reflected in C-3PO's metallic head during a scene before his oil bath, and a Jawa's costume sleeve slips to reveal the actor's forearm while retrieving R2-D2. Anachronisms involve period-inappropriate elements, such as outdated technology clashing with the film's setting, like the primitive 1970s-level computer graphics used on the radar screen of the Millennium Falcon in the futuristic universe of Star Wars: A New Hope.[16] Geographical inaccuracies feature incorrect locations or landmarks, as seen in The Godfather Part II (1974), where a Dominican Republic flag flies at a Havana hotel instead of a Cuban one during Fredo's arrival. Other varieties encompass audio desyncs, where spoken dialogue fails to align with characters' lip movements; subtitle errors in translated films, leading to mismatched or incorrect text overlays; and editing flubs, such as mismatched action sequences. Star Wars: A New Hope alone features 54 documented goofs across these categories on IMDb as of 2025.[17][18] Databases like IMDb's Goofs section play a key role in cataloging these errors, enabling fans and contributors to submit, verify, and discuss spotted mistakes, which fosters a collaborative community effort in dissecting films for imperfections. This user-driven documentation has made it easier for audiences to identify and share goofs, turning potential flaws into points of trivia and analysis.[19] The term "goof" for such cinematic errors emerged in the mid-20th century, aligning with the 1940s usage of "goof" to denote a mistake, and gained traction in film discourse as detailed breakdowns in criticism and media became more common post-1950s.[6]In slang and idioms
In North American English, "goof" serves as informal slang for a foolish, silly, or incompetent person, often used playfully or as a mild insult to describe someone prone to blunders or eccentric behavior. This usage, drawing from dialectal roots meaning "simpleton," gained traction in casual speech by the mid-1900s. In Canadian contexts, the term similarly emphasizes incompetence or silliness, though it carries a stronger edge as an insult for someone acting foolishly or irresponsibly, and includes niche derogatory prison slang for certain criminals such as rapists.[5][3] Common idiomatic expressions extend this slang into everyday phrases. "Goof on someone" means to tease or mock a person lightly, often in a humorous but potentially unkind way, as in "Don't goof on her about her new haircut."[20] Similarly, "goof up" refers to committing a silly error or bungling a task, such as "He really goofed up the presentation by forgetting his notes."[21] These idioms highlight the word's role in denoting minor mishaps without severe consequences, contrasting with British English equivalents like "cock-up" for a blunder.[1] The term's prevalence is markedly stronger in North American varieties of English compared to British usage, where it is less common and often replaced by terms like "idiot" or "mess-up" for similar concepts.[20] In modern internet slang, revivals appear in memes depicting "goofs" as viral fails or awkward moments, amplifying its association with lighthearted incompetence in online communities. Culturally, "goof" has influenced comedy and casual discourse since the post-1940s era, popularized through radio and television sketches that portrayed goofy characters as endearing oddballs, embedding the term in phrases for teasing or idling, such as briefly referencing the verb sense in "goof off" to waste time playfully.[1] This has sustained its use in subcultural contexts, though mainstream idioms avoid niche derogatory variants.[21]References
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/goof